Last month Corrections welcomed new members of the Midland Region’s Fautua Pasefika at a ceremony at Wanganui’s Rangahaua Marae.
The Fautua Pasefika are senior members of the Pacific Community who are granted improved access to prisons and prisoners in order to address the cultural and spiritual needs of Pacific prisoners.
The ceremony highlighted an increased focus on supporting the needs of Pacific offenders, says Pacific Policy Adviser Leatuavao Viko Aufaga.
“Those who get the support of their community are less likely to return to prison,” Viko says.
“Giving Fautua Pasefika access to Pacific offenders in prison enhances the links between the prisoner and their communities prior to their release. This helps ensure that there is support for the offender as soon as they return to the community, which ultimately reduces reoffending.”
At the ceremony, Corrections’ Midland Regional Adviser for Maori and Pacific Affairs Te Waihanea Hakaraia praised Pacific chaplains and other volunteers for their work in helping the rehabilitation of offenders.
“Pacific volunteers and chaplains support the Fautua Pasefika in instilling the offender with strong cultural values, philosophies and practices,” she says.
“This cultural identity is a key contributor to their well being because it brings with it a sense of identity and cultural confidence,” added Te Waihanea.
Te Waihanea says the work volunteers do inside prisons supports the positive changes required by offenders. This helps ensure that their communities on the outside are safer.
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